how dark should it be?

[hc-ford]

Im am making american light beer from an extract kit. It has been fermenting for 4 or 5 days now, but it is still very dark. When should it start becoming lighter in color? and in dark i mean really dark

 

[ArkhamAsylum]

Welcome to the forum. When asking a question like this, it always helps to post your recipe and techniques.
That said, "light" and "pale," in a homebrewer's mind, aren't exactly Coors Light colored. Honey-colored is a more realistic goal for a light beer.
Also, when you add the extract, if you don't reduce the heat or stir fast enough, it'll get burnt on the bottom of the pot, leading to a darker beer. It will get a little lighter with time, but don't expect to go from dirty motor oil to clean motor oil.

 

[GuldTuborg]

Bear in mind the color that a beer appears to be when you're looking through 18" of it in a bucket is very different from how it will appear when you're looking through 3" of it in a glass.

That said, beers don't get lighter as time progresses. If anything, they tend to get darker as the yeast flocs out. If you're really concerned, take a gravity sample and see how it looks in that dinky 1" tube. Is it still dark looking? Post a pic and a recipe if so.

 

[Baldy_Beer_Brewery]

It will also look much darker in the fermenter than it will the glass. Pretty much any beer will.

 

[hc-ford]

ok well it is my first time homebrewing i had an iron master brand "american light" flavor canned beer kit given to me. I have followed the instructions, didnt boil it in the pot because it said just add boiling water. I have it in a glass carboy and it is just dark. Maybe im just assuming that it being a light beer it will look like a coors light?

 

[pkincaid]

While some recipes can turn out very light from a straw to a blonde color. Most of the "light" beers I've brewed maintain a rather golden, cornflower yellow tint to them.

Keep in mind that "light" on the label does not often imply the color will be "light". There are many uses for the term "light" when it comes to beer. It can be used to describe carbs, calories, flavor, sometimes color.... it varies from brand to brand. Regardless of the color I'm sure it will turn out fine!
So welcome to the boards and....
RDWHAHB

 

[lumpher]

as everyone has said, it will not be light-colored. adding boiling water, it will end up darker, about what you'd expect a commercial see-through lighter dark beer would be. no change to taste, just a darker color

 

[hc-ford]

ok thanks every1 hoping it turns out good so i can start the next

 

[Pappers_]

it will also look much darker in the fermenter than it will the glass. Pretty much any beer will.

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